postulancy

noun

pos·​tu·​lan·​cy ˈpäs-chə-lən(t)-sē How to pronounce postulancy (audio)
plural postulancies
1
: the quality or state of being a postulant
2
: the period during which a person remains a postulant

Examples of postulancy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In a retreat focused on the Virgin Mary held one month before the group was to enter the novitiate, the Mistress of Postulants told them that the 10 months of the postulancy are like the months of pregnancy—that the postulants were, in a very real spiritual sense, gestating Jesus in their wombs. Rebecca J. Lester, Scientific American, 16 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'postulancy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of postulancy was circa 1883

Dictionary Entries Near postulancy

Cite this Entry

“Postulancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/postulancy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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